LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the editor:
I want to publicly thank and acknowl
edge Alfred “Bud” Lane for his efforts
on behalf of all tribal members. True to
his words as a candidate and again later
as a council member, Alfred “Bud” Lane
followed through with his pledge to
challenge the ordinance and resolutions
prohibiting tribal member employees
from serving on Tribal Council.
While still a candidate, Bud pre
sented his case against this prohibition
to the Tribal Council at its regular
January meeting. He based his
presentation on the Tribal Constitution,
the Indian Civil Rights Act, and federal
law, arguing that the prohibitions were
unconstitutional and discriminatory.
At the conclusion of his presenta
tion, Bud asked the Tribal Council to
rescind the language prohibiting tribal
member employees from serving on
council from ordinances, manuals, and
any other documents. By a vote of 4-3,
the council passed three resolutions
rescinding this language from the
Personnel Manual, the Operations
Manual, and the Ethics Ordinance.
However, the vote was not binding on
the Ethics Ordinance as an ordinance
can only be amended by a 2/3 majority
vote of the seated council.
As most know, Bud Lane was
successful in his bid for a seat on the
Tribal Council. Just prior to the
election, Bud secured a temporary
restraining order from Tribal Court that
prevented the council from denying him
his seat and the administration from
terminating his employment until the
matter could be heard in Tribal Court.
On Saturday, March 6, 2004, Bud
had his day in court. Representing
himself, he once again presented his
case that the prohibitions were
unconstitutional and discriminatory.
Tribal Attorney Craig Dorsay defended
the five council members who felt the
laws were valid and should remain. Many
past and current council members, on
both sides of the issue, appeared as
witnesses or supplied affidavits.
The hearing lasted about four hours.
Then after about 30 minutes of delib
eration, Chief Judge Calvin Gantenbein
issued his decision, finding that the laws
and documents containing the prohi
bition against tribal member employees
serving on council were unconstitutional.
Again, I want to thank Bud Lane
for his courage for putting himself on
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the line and for the hours he spent
putting together and presenting his case.
Also, I want to state my admiration and
respect for Bud’s wife, Cheryl Lane,
who gave him unwavering support,
staying by his side through this whole
experience - including in the courtroom.
And finally, 1 want to thank the many
tribal members who took the time to
attend this important hearing.
On March 6, 2004, tribal history
was made and I’m glad I was there to
see it.
Shu’ nuu-xwa nin la
(we thank you or good for us you did)
Bonnie M. Petersen
I’m writing this letter to request the
Strong family burial plot be closed. My
grandmother, Mamie Strong, on her
deathbed requested me to take care of
the graves in the Strong family burial
plot at the Siletz Paul Washington
Cemetery. The date of her request was
April of 1973.
I have gladly taken on this
responsibility for years. She was very
clear in her wishes to me that she was
to be the last one to be buried in the
Strong burial plot. We also had
discussed, when the time came that I
could no longer care for the graves,
grass was to be planted.
It has become difficult for me to
care for the plots. The time has come
to request grass be planted and the
Strong family plot closed. This was her
dying wishes to me and I do wish to
honor her request.
I hope that council will be able
to honor her request as well. If there
are any questions, please call me at
503-393-5855. I would like a written
response to this letter for my records.
Thank you in advance for your
consideration in this matter.
April 2004
Sincerely,
Donna L. (Strong) Kessinger
Royce R. Strong
To the editor:
I want to thank all the tribal mem
bers who supported me in the elections.
Many of them have convinced me to
run again next year.
Those of you who live outside the
Siletz area may not be aware that newly
elected Tribal Council member Bud
Lane challenged the legality of the
Siletz Constitution on March 6, 2004.
Bud contended that his constitu
tional rights were being violated
because the Constitution doesn’t state
that a tribal member cannot simulta
neously sit on council and be employed
by the tribe.
The policy in the Siletz Personnel
Manual, Operations Manual, and Tribal
Council Ethics Code states that if a
Siletz Tribal employee is elected,
he/she must give up his/her tribal job.
After the elections, Bud received
a stay from Tribal Court and was
allowed to work and be on council until
his hearing.
A few tribal elders who helped draft
our Constitution and the policies
testified on why they were written the
way they are. The conflict of interest
issue was the main concern. They
shared some problems that could occur
if a council member was someone’s
subordinate and had issues with his/her
supervisor. The issue of time was also
addressed. Council cannot vote on tribal
issues without a quorum.
Each Tribal Council member
testified. Some were asked by the judge
if they thought the policies made it
impossible for younger people to run
for council. He stated that policies could
be changed so tribal employees could
work for the tribe. If there was a conflict
for managers and supervisors that
council could state which employee
could run and which could not.
It was brought out that each
employee has a choice. When they run
for council, they know if elected they’ll
have to resign from their job. It’s been
that way for 20 years.
After all was said and done, the
judge rendered his decision. In his
closing remarks, he talked about
freedom of speech; this issue wasn’t
under debate. He said the policies were
in violation and our constitutional rights
were being violated. Just because the
policies had been in effect for 20 years
and members had been abiding by them,
they were in violation of our rights.
I don’t understand how the judge
can say council is in violation by stating
that no employee can sit on council and
work for the tribe. But it would be OK
if council changed policies and then
they could pick and choose which em
ployee could run and which could not.
In the future, what would stop the
managers from claiming these same
issues?
I believe the tribal elders were right
when they set the policies the way they
did 20 years ago.
I hope when you vote on this issue,
you’ll think of the issue, not the person
whom the issue is about.
Thank you,
Loraine Y. Butler
To the editor:
I have a problem that maybe some
one can help me with. Over the last year,
my company lost a lot of equipment. I
don’t even know if some of my
equipment was lost on the tribal
housing paint job. There were garden
hoses, tarps, and hand tools. Mostly, my
biggest loss was ladders. One was a
large fiberglass extension ladder.
I really need ladders and sure could
use any help I could get. If someone
knows of any extension ladders
available, I would even buy them if the
price is right. A 20- to 28-footer is what
I really need.
I’ve also been looking to get
another Siletz Booster jacket. I would
use just the patches if they are available.
I decided to write this to see about
getting some ladders. Last week, I got
a call from a man in Newport to ask
if I was ever gonna pick up my six-
foot ladders that were in his backyard
for over a year. It’s easy to lose track
of stuff and hard to replace. Any help
is appreciated.
Phil Rilatos Jr.